Having a destination wedding in Charleston, South Carolina was an easy decision for Amy and Nick to make. Nick grew up vacationing with his family in South Carolina and the state had other sentimental value to the couple.

“When we were dating, Nick took me on our first weekend getaway to Charleston,” Amy says. “He was so excited to show me the city as he remembered it from his childhood.” After getting engaged, Amy and Nick knew traveling would be involved for the majority of their guests, regardless of where it was held. Nick’s family resides in Ohio, while Amy’s is located in North Carolina, New York, Virginia and Florida.

The duo decided on South Carolina due to Nick’s familiarity with it and how many special memories they had shared there. Their guests were very excited to learn that their wedding would be held in Charleston.

Planning ahead, Nick and Amy sent out their save the date cards a year in advance.

“I’m not going to say it was easy to plan a destination wedding, but it was definitely worth it,” says Amy. She had to trust that various websites and vendors were reputable, because she was not in Charleston to see everything in person. Organization was a key to planning success, as Amy and Nick kept a binder and spreadsheet to help monitor payment information and vendors contacts.

When selecting the vendors, Amy dug deep online to find the vendors she felt had the most passion and love for their craft. “I scrolled down through the vendors to sift past the ‘wedding machine’ vendors to find people who were passionate about their work,” says Amy. “My photographer, florist and caterer were all artists in their own right who cared about the quality of their work.”

The reviews for all of the selected vendors were filled with glowing recommendations of their dedication and quality of work.

“I spoke with my vendors by telephone and shared pictures, floor plan ideas and ideas for the flow of the day,” says Amy. “Since I did not have a wedding planner, it was really up to me to make sure that each vendor understood the details of the day.”

Even though Amy and Nick had never met the majority of their vendors until the day of, they were completely pleased with all of their services.

Amy was a DIY mastermind for her and Nick’s perfect day. Not only did her and her sister design the wedding invitations, Amy even made the cake. “I wanted our cake to be delicious and special, so I decided to make it myself.” Other family members also helped with making gift bags for all of the guests.

In the end, Amy and Nick feel like they spent about the same amount of money if they hadn’t have gone with a destination wedding. They couldn’t have been happier with where they chose to tie the knot.

“There is no place in North Carolina or Ohio that would have given us the same ambiance as Charleston,” says Amy. “What more beautiful place exists in the spring than Charleston, South Carolina?”

For those in the process of planning their own destination wedding, Amy advises, “Through all the preparation and stress, you have to enjoy your day!”

Vendors: Photographer: Taylor Rae Photography, Ceremony/Reception Site: South Carolina Society Hall, Florist: Sara DeBiasi of Charleston Blooms, Stationery: Amy Tobergte, Cake: Amy Tobergte, Hair & Makeup: Ashley Richardson, Charlotte, NC, Gown Designer: Essense of Australia, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Jos. A. Banks, Bridesmaids Clothing Designer: Mori Lee, Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Jos. A. Banks, Caterer: Just Eat This, Band: Fantasy, East Coast Entertainment, Limousine: Charleston Downtown Limo, Hotel: Mills House Hotel, Wine: Windsor Run Cellars.